Short Stories/Novellas

Valentine Welburn has grown accustomed to her freedom in Calcutta. So when she reaches the gray shores of England to debut in her first London Season, she is irked by the conventions of high society. With her irrepressible spirit, unusual beauty, and a large fortune, the stage is set for gossip. Scandal and intrigue ensue when two men—the distinguished Lord Marbeck and the dashing, dangerous Sir Richard Brindley—appear on the scene. Valentine must determine whom she can trust and listen to what her heart is telling her.

King Richard’s Bones Since when have Kings of England been buried in Leicester? “Here we go again,” said the Controller. “Of all our charges, you had to let Richard III escape. Again. Every time he goes back to Earth he causes trouble, and with the recent news, the Directorate of Unruly Spirits should have been on high alert.” “There was no reason at all to think that he would break out like this,” the Director said. “On the contrary, there was every reason to think so. The moment his bones were dug up, you should have known there was going to be trouble.” “I explained the situation with regard to his bones to him, in a perfectly reasonable way.” “Clearly not.” “He isn’t an easy subject to deal with.” “He’s not a subject, he’s an anointed king.” King Richard III, enraged at the bureaucratic and irreligious plans for the disposal of his mortal remains, has returned to his earthly realm in ghostly form to reclaim his bones for proper burial. Pursued by a pair of leather-clad celestial secret agents, he and his bemused musician accomplice, Sam, bundle the royal skeleton into a cello case… and set off for York.

Nineteen and enjoying her first season, Miss Anna Gosforth is ready for romance. But the possibility of war with France looms, and danger is everywhere—even in the glittering ballrooms of high society. Caught up in a sinister scheme to pass secrets to the enemy, Anna comes up against one of Napoleon’s most dangerous agents and discovers that quick-wittedness and resourcefulness are just as important as prettiness and poise. A lively comedy of manners set in the Regency era, The Painted Fan tells the story of a young woman finding true love and on the way, finding herself.